Insurance

Blue Shield CEO Surrenders

May 23, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2418" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/blueshieldsnakewht.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 225px; float: right;" width="199" height="225" />The long time CEO of Blue Shield Bruce Bodaken resigned today after a multi-year battle with us over disclosure of his $4.6 million annual salary and unreasonable premium hikes.<br /> <br /> During his tenure, Bodaken oversaw a health insurance company that has raised rates by tens of millions of dollars while stockpiling $3.2 billion more in “reserves” than the state requires.<br /> <br />

Ever heard of California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program?

May 22, 2012  ·  Laura Antonini

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2416" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/insurance-foto-300x200.jpg" style="float: right; width: 300px; height: 200px; " width="300" height="200" />California drivers: have you heard of the Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program? If you have a minimum liability auto insurance policy (15/30/15) and this doesn’t sound familiar, then your insurance agent or broker may have violated the law.</p> <p> California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program gives low-income motorists with good driving records access to affordable, minimum liability auto insurance policies.</p>

Critics Remain Skeptical That Health Care Ballot Initiative Benefits California

May 22, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/05/22/32524/critics-say-health-care-ballot-initiative-isnt-goo/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>.</p> <p> <span id="audio-options">As consumer advocates celebrate their successful signature gathering effort to place on the November ballot a measure intended to regulate medical insurance rates in California, others are warning voters against the Consumer Watchdog-sponsored initiative.</span></p>

Noel Ma – Fontana, CA

May 21, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> My health insurance policy with Anthem Blue Cross has gotten so unaffordable that I seriously think about dropping it because it’s now draining my savings. I have nothing left for unexpected expenses, much less for pleasure.</p>

Backers of Health Insurance Rate Regulation Edge Closer to Ballot

May 19, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>Supporters of a proposed ballot measure seeking tighter regulation of health insurance rates in California turned in 800,000 petition signatures, confident that they will qualify for the Nov. 6 election.</strong><br /> <br /> In the coming weeks, county election offices and the California secretary of state will determine whether the measure meets the requirement for 504,760 valid signatures of registered voters. The deadline to qualify is June 28.<br /> <br />

Feud Colors Clash Over California’s Health Care Rates

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The stage is set for an immense political clash over regulation of health insurance with multibillion-dollar stakes and an impact on virtually every Californian.<br /> <br /> Consumer Watchdog battled insurers over regulation of auto and other personal insurance 24 years ago and won, claiming that it has saved consumers tens of billions of dollars since.<br /> <br />

Health Insurance Rate Regulation Proposal Gets 800,000 Signatures

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Supporters of a proposal to give state regulators power to reject health insurance rate increases say they are submitting 800,000 voter signatures to election officials in hopes of qualifying for the November ballot.</p> <p> "We will give California voters the chance to decide their own fate in November and stop out of control health insurance premiums," Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court, whose group is sponsoring the initiative, wrote in an email to supporters today.</p>

Signatures Submitted for Health Insurance Rate Initiative

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Proponents of an initiative that would give California regulators the power to regulate health insurance rates submitted 800,000 voter signatures on Friday in hopes of qualifying the measure for the November ballot.</p> <p> Consumer Watchdog called the initiative a "common sense proposal" to expand provisions of Proposition 103, which regulates auto and home insurance rates. Prop 103, also backed by the Santa Monica advocacy group, was approved by voters in 1988.</p>

Group Submits Signatures for Insurance Rate Regulation Measure

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Consumer advocates upped the ante on premium rate regulation in California on Friday when they delivered petitions signed by 800,000 California voters to a qualify an initiative for the November ballot.<br /> <br /> The Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act needs 504,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The measure must be certified by June 28 to qualify.<br /> <br /> The measure takes one of the most hotly contested bills in years directly to the people after legislative efforts stalled in the final days of the last session.</p>

Ballot Initiative Would Hold Health Insurance Premiums Down

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZVQgZcufYlc?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br /> <br /> NORWALK (CBS) — Leaders of Consumer Watchdog Campaign along with patients and the state’s Insurance Commissioner delivered to the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office in Norwalk hundreds of thousands of petition signatures in support of a health insurance rate justification ballot initiative.<br /> <br />

Sign Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace…Regulate Health Insurance Rates

May 12, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Next week we will be turning in the signatures for our ballot petition to force health insurance companies to justify their rates and get permission before instituting their rate hikes.<br /> <br /> <strong><a href="http://justifyrates.org/_docs/redirect_petition.php?source=cwlc">Download</a>, sign and return in the mail by the end of the weekend to be part of the signature turn-in or forever hold your peace.</strong><br /> <br /> This short video preview of the initiative by our friends in Hollywood explains why this is the most important autograph you will give this year.

The Marie Antoinette Of Health Insurance & How To Dethrone Her

May 7, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2411" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/images_braly-quote4.jpg" style="width: 157px; height: 250px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="157" height="250" />Two years ago, as federal health reform lay on death’s door, CEO Angela Braly, head of Blue Cross’s parent company Wellpoint, spit on beleaguered patients. She sat through poignant Congressional testimony from customers whose lives were being ruined by spiraling premium hikes, then Braly testified that the public outrage was "a triumph of sound bites over substance."<br /> <br />